Means for producing mechanical vibrations



E. E. TURNER. JR

Filed July 21, 1936 Ill l2 l3 Oct. 29, 1940.

- HEARS FOR PRODUCING IIECiiAHICAL VIBRATIONS Patented Oct. 29, 1940 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR PBODU gmo'ismcrmmcal.

V VIBRA IONS Edwin E. Tamer, In, West Roxbury, Mass assignor to Submarine Signal Company, Boston,

Mass a corporation oi Maine Application July 21, 1936, Serial No. 91,791

6 Claims. (Cl. 21-61) The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing vibratory energy and more particularly to the vibration of small volumes of liquid either under continuous flow or in en- 6 closed volumes.

The apparatus of the present invention is preferably applied to vibrations in the upper part of the sonic range and in supersonic frequencies,

and in particular fgr pathological work such as treatment of liquids containing bacteria or other micro-organisms for variouspurposes.

One e c ef purposes of the present application is to provide vibrations of relatively large amplitudes at high frequencies and to maintain the structure of such low weight and proportions that it may be used as a laboratory apparatus.

Another purpose of the present invention is to completely separate the element containing the liquid to be vibrated from the electrical system and to so support the vibratory source that the mechanical system will always be free to vibrate.

Another feature of the present invention is a system whereby the apparatus may be watercooled and thus enable the liquid to be treated at the proper temperature at which the experimental work is to be performed.

The present invention will be more fully described in connection with the drawing which shows a vertical cross section through the cen ter of the apparatus.

In the figure, i represents a base which is provided with a central opening l0 through which the water-cooling system is inserted. Mounted on the base I is a shell 4 having a cir-' cular opening II at the top symmetrically placed with respect to the opening it) in the base I. The shell 4 may be cylindrical in shape with a domeshaped space within, in which the coil i2 is placed. It will also be noted that a cylinder 2 may project inwardly from the center of the base I surrounding the opening l0 and symmetrical with the opening I i in the cylindrical shell 4. On the upper outside surface within a grooved portion of the cylinder 2 there may be wound a coil 3 having conducting elements l3 leading out of the bottom of the device. The cylindrical shell 4, the base I and the'element 2 form a magnetic path for the flux of the coil l2 and provide a magnetic air gap in a space H between the hole at the top of the cylinder 4 and the top of the collar or cylinder 2. The direct current flux in this air gap may be varied by means of the current impressed upon the alternating current coil 3. Within the air gap l4 there is placed a hollow tube l5 which may be capped over at the top as indicated at l6 and provided with a centrally located flange I! which terminates in a cylindrical wall or shell i3 having an external flange IS.

The lower end 20 of the tube I! may be made of some conductive material or plated with some such conductive material as, for instance, silver. The tube itself is preferably made of some high sound conductive material in which the mechanical and acoustical losses are a minimum. A very suitable material for this purpose is beryllium copper. The tube i5 is supported by the external shell 1 which is fastened in the flange 2| by means of the bolts 22 to the base i. This shell I has an inwardly projecting flange 8 upon which the flange ll rests. The top flange i9 is surrounded with a rubber washer 23 U-shaped in section as shown surrounding the flange IS.

The threaded ring 24 presses against the washer 23 and forces the flange ll firmly down against the flange 3, at the same time providing a watertight seal at the top around the flange IS. A second cover 25 may be provided over the ring 24 and this clamped in place by means of the ring 26. The cavity 21 external of the upper part of the tube and within the shell I8 forms the container for the liquid which might be supplied and withdrawn by means of the tubes 28 and 29. Since the flange i1 is at the central portion of the tube it is also at a nodal point of vibration and will therefore not interfere with the longitudinal vibrations of the tube. It will also be evident to those skilled in the art that the end 20 of the tube I5 is in the air gap of a direct current electromagnet formed by the core 2 and the shell 4 and excited by the direct current magnet coil l2. The alternating current which passes through the coil i3 serves to increase and decrease the strength of the magnetic field in the air gap, thereby inducing currents to flow in the end 20 of the tube I5 which, in turn, react upon the flux in the air gap to bring about an up and down movement of the end 20 in the air gap. This motion sets up a longitudinal vibration in the tube 15 resulting in a large amplitude of vibration at the upper end of the tube.

A means is provided for cooling the internal side of the tube I5 in the upper portion where the liquid comes in contact with the tube. Within the opening l0 and the cylinder 2 there is provided an internal pipe 30 extending upward near the top l8 0! the tube. The pipe 30 may be provided at the end with a spray nozzle 8| for spraying the cooling medium on the inside wall of the capped portion of the tube. The tube II is within a second tube 32 which may serve as an outlet ior the liquid within the top part the tube. A collar 33 is provided welded to the tube 82 at the top edge. This collar is slightly smaller than the internal diameter or the tube ll. Just below the collar 83 is a rubber collar 34 which is pressed outward by means of the collar ll threaded to the external tube 32. In this way the cooling liquid is prevented from reaching the bottom oi the tube where the electrical generating systeni is positioned. The rubber ring ll which may, oi course, be of any other suitable material is pressed against the tube ll.

Having now described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for applying vibrations to a liquid comprising a container having a tube projecting from the central portion of the base thereof, said base forming a web at the nodal point of the tube, said tube being capped at the end within the container, means supporting said container comprising a cylinder having an inwardly projecting flange upon which said container rests, said container at its top edge having an outwardly projecting flange and means applied above said flange for clamping said container within said cylinder and means for applying vibrations at the other end oi said tube to vibrate the same longitudinally.

2. Means for supplying vibrational energy to a liquid mass comprising a container having a tube projecting from the base thereof, said base forming a web support at the nodal point of the tube, said tube being capped at its end within the container, an element supporting said container comprising a casing having an inwardly projecting flange upon which the container is adapted to be rested, means positioned at the top edge oi said container and attached to said casing for flrmly seeming said container in said casing and electrical means applied at the base of the casing and associated with the other end oi. the tube for producing longitudinal vibrations of the tube.

3. Means for applying vibrational energy to a liquid medium comprising a container having a tube projecting from the base thereof, said base forming a rigid supporting nodal web for the support of said tube. said tube projecting inwardly into said container and being capped at said end,

saidotherendoithetubebeingopenandelectrical means applied at said open end for vibrating the tube, means supporting said container at said nodal web and means positioned within said tube for cooling the upper portion thereof within said container, said means being made watertight Wit-1:111 the tube at the point of said nodal sup- P 4. Means for producing vibrational energy comprising a metallic container having a central axis of symmetry with a centrally located tube projecting upwards within said container and capped at the upwardly projecting end, rigid means joining said tube at its nodal point externally below the capped end to said container, means for making the interior section of said "tube at said joining means watertight comprising gasket means and means pressing said gasket means outwardly against the inner sides oi the walls of said tube, means for circulating cooling water therein, and means forming a magnetic airgap around the lower end of the tube, said lower end being open and positioned in said airgap and adapted to be vibrated by the variation of the magnetic flux therein.

5. Apparatus for vibrating liquids comprising a supporting vertical casing having an interior projecting flange projecting from the wall oi'said casing forming a shelf, a container adapted to flt within said casing, said container having centrally and symmetrically located a vertically top capped tube having an externally extending rigid nodal web comprising a shoulder adapted to rest on said shell and means positioned at the bottom end of the tube for vibrating the same.

6. Means for producing vibrational energy comprising a metallic container having a central vertical axis 01' symmetry with a centrally located tube projecting upwards within the container and capped at the upwardly projecting end, rigid means joining said tube at its nodal point externally below the capped end to said container, means for making the interior section of said tube at said Joining means watertight, means for circulating cooling water therein, and means forming a magnetic airgap around the lower end of the tube, said airgap having the same shape as the lower end of the tube and said tube being aligned vertically therein and means positioned within said airgap for varying the magnetic flux therethrough whereby said tube will be vibrated at its end.

EDWIN I. TURNER, Ja. 

